Float for fishing nets and the like



April 11, 1939. w ELD 2,154,112

FLOAT FOR FISHING NETS AND THE LIKE Filed Fb. 11, 1958 Fig.2.

Invent m". L awr' enceW Seefeldt I/II/C Hit urn E u 5.

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention appertains to floats, and more particularly to hollow metallic floats of the type used in connection with fishing nets and similar appliances.

In the use of hollow metallic (aluminum) floats, considerable difliculty has been had with the floats collapsing while in use. This is particularly true where the floats are used in deep cold water. The collapsing is possibly caused by water pressure and difference in temperature of the surface water and the deep waters to which the floats are continuously subjected.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide novel means for forming and constructing the floats, whereby the collapsing thereof will be prevented.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide novel means for reinforcing the floats at the transverse center thereof, whereby to prevent the crushing and collapsing of the floats.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a hollow float formed from like companion sections, with novel means for uniting the meeting ends of the sections, whereby the float will be strengthened and reinforced at its transverse center.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved float, parts of the figure being shown broken away and in section to illustrate structural details.

Figure 2 is an end elevational View of the float.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the first steps practiced in the forming of the float.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing another step in the forming of the float.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4, showing a further step and illustrating the connection of the sections of the float.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 3, 4, and 5, showing the final step practiced in the forming of the float.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corre sponding parts throughout the several views, the letter F generally indicates my improved float, which is of a hollow construction, formed from metal, such as aluminum.

The float F includes a pair of like companion sections Ill and II. These sections are preferably drawn into shape, and each includes an annular side wall I2 and a closed tapered end wall I3. The inner ends of the sections are normally left open, and these ends are united in a novel manner to strengthen and reinforce the float, so as to prevent the collapsing and crushing thereof.

During the forming of the section III, the inner edge thereof is provided with a downturned bead I4 and an outwardly extending lip I5. The section I I has its inner edge provided with a lip I6, which is of a slightly greater diameter than the lip I5, whereby the lip I6 can be placed over and in snug engagement with the lip I5.

To add greater rigidity to the float, I employ an internal annular ring [1. The outer periphery of the ring I I is provided with an annular groove I8 intermediate its side edges, and the ring on one side of the groove is cut away or otherwise formed, as at I9, so that the same will be of less diameter than that portion of the ring lying on the other side of the groove. This ring is slipped within the open end of the section III, with the lip I5 engaging the periphery of the ring H at its greater diameter, with the bead I4 partially lying within the groove I8. The lip I5 is now flanged inwardly over the outer face of the ring I1, as at 20. The inner end of the section II is now slipped over the ring and the section Iii, so that the free edge of the lip overlies the bead M. The lip It, as shown in Figure 5, is now flanged inwardly, as at 2|, into the bead I4, into intimate contact with one wall of the head. This can be accomplished by the use of a suitably shaped roller, as suggested in Figure 5.

The final step is shown in Figure 6. The section II is held stationary, and the section II] is moved toward the section I I, and the bead is forced into the groove I8, so that the wall of the bead will engage the flanged end 2|. This forms an exceptionally simple and durable joint, which effectively reinforces the float at its transverse center, and the joint and the ring prevent the collapsing and crushing of the float.

If desired, the float can also be reinforced by annular beads 22, as shown in Figure 1, and the float can also be provided at spaced points with pairs of struck-out guide ribs 23 for the reception of the cord utilized in lashing the float to a net.

While I have shown my novel joint incorporated with a float, it is to be understood that the same can be used in connection with other sheet metal vessels.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A hollow metallic float comprising, a pair of like companion sections, each including a side wall and an outer closed wall, a reinforcing ring having an annular groove disposed inside one of said sections, said lastmentioned section having a flange disposed over the ring and a bead in said groove, the inner end of the other of said sections being placed over the flanged end of the firstmentioned section and having its edge disposed in said bead.

2. The method of constructing a reinforced hollow metallic float from a pair of like companion sections, which consists in forming a bead and a lip on the inner edge of one section, placing a ring having an annular groove in the outer end of the mentioned section, with the lip engaging the periphery of the ring and the bead partially in the groove of the ring; second, flanging the lip over the ring; third, placing the inner end of the other section over the flanged end of the first section with the edge of the last-mentioned section over the bead; fourth, flanging the inner edge of the last-mentioned section into the bead; and, finally, forcing the walls of the bead into tight engagement with the flanged end of the last-mentioned section.

3. A hollow metallic float comprising, a pair of like companion sections, each including a side wall and an outer closed wall, a reinforcing member having an annular groove disposed inside one of said sections, said last-mentioned section having a bead fitted in said annular groove, the inner end of the other of said sections being placed over the end of said first-mentioned section, and said last-mentioned section having its edge disposed in said bead.

LAWRENCE W. SEEFELDT. 

